9.
Page 9
Internationale aanwezigheid in België
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014
100 were conducted
outside of Belgium
100 were conducted in Belgium
 which means companies
already established in that area
20 of them are already
established in Belgium
As a whole, out of the 200 interviewed companies,
60% are present in Belgium (n=120)

30.
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Buitenlandse investeerders benadrukken ook de diversiteit en
kwaliteit van de Belgische werknemers
Q2. What are in your opinion Belgium‟s world class features if it wants to remain a major destination for
investment ?
For 57% of companies having activities in the consumer sector, Belgium‟s market size proves to be a top asset
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014

34.
Page 34
Bestaande investeerders in Vlaanderen benadrukken kwaliteit van de
werknemers in Vlaanderen. De nog niet in België gevestigde investeerders
kennen de regionale verschillen niet
Q21. For each of the following criteria, indicate which region in Belgium is most closely associated with them.

40.
Page 40
Q17. Comparing the actual cost of wages and salaries in Belgium with its neighboring countries
and the European averages, would you say it is…?
Loonkosten zijn een belangrijk probleem voor gevestigde
bedrijven, vooral in België
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014

41.
Page 41
Q17. Comparing the actual cost of wages and salaries in Belgium with its neighboring countries
and the European averages, would you say it is…?
… en in het bijzonder voor kleinere bedrijven
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014

44.
Page 44
De kleinere bedrijven in het bijzonder worden getroffen door deze
administratieve administratieve druk vanwege de overheid
A majority of those who perceive
an increase of administrative
pressure (respectively 65% and
61%) feel corporate taxes and
labor costs should reduce in
order to restore Belgium‟s
attractiveness. In addition, 28%
of them consider that tax
increases for businesses
recently introduced by the
government could have a very
substantial negative effect on
the investment climate .
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014
Q20. In your opinion, do the public authorities apply administrative pressure to companies established in
Belgium ?

47.
Page 47
Recente belastingverhogingen wekken veel negativiteit op - investeerders
menen dat dit kan resulteren in een reductie van investeringen of mogelijks
delocalisatie, 1 op 5 meent dat de gevolgen substantieel kunnen zijn
Q13. The Belgian government has introduced a series of tax increases for businesses and entrepreneurs
(For example, the increase of taxation for company vehicles for employees, the strengthening of Thin-Cap provisions, the
increase of a liquidation tax on corporation, the introduction of more effective General Accepted Anti Abuse provision and
the introduction of a fairness tax on dividend distributions). Would you say that the combination of these measures
may lead to a substantial reduction of foreign investments or relocation of existing businesses?
12%
21%
44%
23%
These measures will have a
substantial negative effect
on attractiveness
These measures will have
effect, but minor
These measures will have
no effect, neutral
I am not aware of these
measures
Sample : 200 respondents
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014

48.
Page 48
Vooral de reeds in België aanwezige bedrijven zijn overtuigd van de
negatieve impact van belastingmaatregelen, wat kan leiden tot
aanzienlijk minder investeringen en delokalisatie
Q13. The Belgian government has introduced a series of tax increases for businesses and entrepreneurs (For
example, the increase of taxation for company vehicles for employees, the strengthening of Thin-Cap
provisions, the increase of a liquidation tax on corporation, the introduction of more effective General Accepted
Anti Abuse provision and the introduction of a fairness tax on dividend distributions). Would you say that the
combination of these measures may lead to a substantial reduction of foreign investments or relocation of
existing businesses?
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014

49.
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25%
25%
50%
Yes, the measure is still relevant
No, the incentive is no longer relevant for investment decisions
I am not aware of this measure
De „Belgische notionele interestaftrek‟ blijft belangrijk om
investeringen in België aan te trekken en te behouden, maar de
relevantie ervan is een beetje afgenomen !
Q19. In 2005, the Belgian government introduced the “Belgian Notional Interest deduction”, a tax incentive
aimed at attracting and maintaining capital intensive investments and financial treasury centers toin the country.
Over the last 2,5 years the Belgian government has, for budgetary reasons, consecutively reduced the benefits of
this incentive. Do you feel this Belgian investment policy measure (in its current status) continues to be relevant
to maintain or attract investments in/to Belgium ?
Nationality Western Europe (59%)
Sample : 200 respondents
Established in
Belgium (n=120)
Not Established in
Belgium (n=80)
58% 39%
27% 21%
16% 40%
Nationality Asia (45%)
Interviewed in Western Europe (18%)
Nationality Asia (6%)
Nationality Northern America (37%)
More than 1.5B€ (37%)
In 2013, 72% of companies were
aware of the deduction of notional
interest (vs 75% this year) and 74%
among them considered this
measure as attractive (now 67 %).
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014

50.
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4%
40%
37%
19%
Yes, fully aware Yes, to some degree No, not really Can't say
Slechts 56 % van de bedrijfsleiders kent de verschillende maatregelen om de
arbeidskosten te verminderen en de competitiviteit te herstellen; slechts 1 op 4 van
de niet in België gevestigde bedrijven kennen deze maatregelen.
Sample : 200 respondents
Q15A. The Belgian government Di Rupo I has over the last two years taken some measures to reduce the wage
and labour cost and to enhance Belgium‟s competitiveness (such as partial wage stop or reduction of VAT on
electricity, wage-stop, index reforms & others). Are you aware and informed about these measures ?
Total
Informed
56%
Established in Belgium (30%)
Interviewed in Western Europe (24%)
Established in Flanders (38%)
Established in Belgium (46%)
Private & Business services (54%)
Private & Business services (23%)
Not established in Belgium (10%)
Interviewed in Western Europe (2%)
Private & Business services (11%)
Established in Belgium (76%)
Interv. in West. Europe (63%)
Established in Flanders (81%)
Established in Brussels (70%)
Established in
Belgium (n=120)
Not Established in
Belgium (n=80)
76% 25%
23% 65%
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014

51.
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Van degene die de maatregelen kennen is 71% sceptisch over hun
doeltreffendheid en meent deze ruime meerderheid dat ze slechts een
marginale invloed zullen hebben op de competitiviteit en de wage-gap
Sample : 200 respondents
Q15B. The Belgian government Di Rupo I has over the last two years taken some measures to reduce
the wage and labour cost and to enhance Belgium‟s competitiveness (such as partial wage stop or
reduction of VAT on electricity)…. Do you feel these measures…?
Total
Informed
56%
Sample : 111 companies aware of and informed about these measures
22%
71%
7% Will considerably enhance Belgium's
competitiveness and close the wage-
cost-handicap
Will only enhance competitiveness to
a minor extent
Can't say
Nationality Western Europe (11%)
From 150M€ to 1.5B€ (36%)
Interviewed outside of
Belgium (16%)
New question
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014

52.
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Slechts 1 op 3 investeerders vindt dat de automatische loonindexering
moet behouden blijven „as is‟ – 64% van de investeerders meent dat dit
systeem moet worden gewijzigd of worden afgeschaft
Q18. Belgium has a system of automatic adjustment of wages to inflation, via the indexation system. Do you think
this measure… ?
Sample : 200 respondents
3%
11%
26%
27%
33%
Should remain as it is
Should only be applicable on wages
below a certain level/grade
Should be reduced gradually
Should be stopped immediately
Can't say
Not established in Belgium (8%)
Interviewed in Western Europe (32%)
Consumer (20%)
Interviewed in Western Europe (65%)
Consumer (77%)
Interviewed in Western Europe (37%)
No significant difference
between established and
not established companies
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014

53.
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74%
20%
6% Yes
No
Can't say
18%
39%
43%
Yes, there is such
a forum
No, there is not
Can't say
Q16B. And do you feel that Belgian government acts accordingly ?
+/- 60% van de investeerders denkt dat er geen echt forum bestaat
voor een open en constructief debat over competitiviteit of kent
zo‟n forum niet
Q16A. Do you feel that in Belgium there is an open and constructive forum for a debate on competitiveness
in which the government listens to the worries of business and corporations and their proposed solutions ?
Sample : 200 respondents
Sample : 85 companies who feel there is such a forum
New question
Not established in Belgium (28%)
Nationality Western Europe (10%)
Nationality Northern America (29%)
Established in Brussels (5%)
Interviewed outside of
Belgium (12%)
Belgium attractiveness survey 2014